Category: Tuition

USPF: Review of the Piobaireachd and a Trial of Colin MacLellan’s Judging Proposal

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

I judged the United States Piping Foundation Professional Piobaireachd with Paula Glendinning on Saturday 20th June. It is one of the major US competitions and continues in memory of its founder, Maclean Macleod.   By Dr Jack Taylor MBE It has moved from Delaware to Maryland, and is superbly organised now by Peter Kent, Michael Rogers and their committee. You may have read Michael’s report and full results on Piping…

More USPF: Review of the Piobaireachd and a Trial of Colin MacLellan’s Judging Proposal

Editor’s Notebook: Judging & Teaching/ Plaid Brooch/ Iain Bruce/ World Cup

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

I cannot see any reason why Colin MacLellan’s judging/teaching proposal should not be given at least a pilot run, a properly monitored assessment over several events. If it doesn’t work, well, fair enough, it’s back to the drawing board. But gather the evidence, examine the pros and cons, and make a fact-based decision. If approved, we then leave it up to the promoters as to whether or not they wish…

More Editor’s Notebook: Judging & Teaching/ Plaid Brooch/ Iain Bruce/ World Cup

Proposal to End Difficulties Over Judges and Pupils – Clarification and Reaction

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

There has been considerable response to Colin MacLellan’s recently published proposal to end the problems associated with judging and teaching which continue to plague the solo piping world. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Colin has been the recipient of several messages of support but wishes to clarify one aspect of the proposal which may have been misunderstood and adds further comment: ‘Since the publication of my judging proposal it has…

More Proposal to End Difficulties Over Judges and Pupils – Clarification and Reaction

Editor’s Notebook: Hypocrisy & Contradiction/ Northern Meeting Brooch/ NZ Piob./ John MacDougall 214 BB

Posted on      by      1 Comment

There have been ongoing comments since my ‘What Price Forgiveness for P/M Gordon Walker‘ essay in October 2023. It has clearly struck a chord with readers. Most have been in agreement with the sentiments contained therein. There have been ‘contributions’ by ill-informed contrarians intent on indulging their prejudices, but nothing worthy of publication. Their arguments all fell at the first level of ratiocination. The Rev. Leslie Barrett, the noted amateur…

More Editor’s Notebook: Hypocrisy & Contradiction/ Northern Meeting Brooch/ NZ Piob./ John MacDougall 214 BB

Proposal to End Difficulties Over Judges and Pupils

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The problem of pupils being judged by teachers in piping competitions has caused much debate and division. For the past few years I have spent quite a bit of time using experiences from judging along with playing, and have formulated a plan which I believe solves these problems. By Colin MacLellan In reality, it is very simple, but perhaps appears less so when committed to paper, because every circumstance must…

More Proposal to End Difficulties Over Judges and Pupils